mission
1. mis.sion \'mish-*n\ n [NL, ML, & L; NL mission-, missio religious
mission, fr. ML, task a]ssigned, fr. L, act of sending, fr. missus, pp. of
mittere obs 1: the act or an instance of sending 2a: a ministry
commissioned by a religious organization to propagate its fa ith or carry
on humanitarian work 2b: assignment to or work in a field of missionary
enterprise 2c1: a mission establishment 2c2: a local church or parish
dependent on a larger religious organization for direction or financial
support pl 2d: organized missionary work 2e: a course of sermons and
services given to convert to or quicken Christi an faith 3: a body of
persons sent to perform a service or carry on an activity : as 3a: a group
sent to a foreign country to conduct diplomatic or political ne gotiations
3b: a permanent embassy or legation 3c: a team of specialists or cultural
leaders sent to a foreign country 4: a task or function assigned or
undertaken
2. mission \'mish-(*-)nin\ vt or mis.sion.ing 1: to send on or entrust with
a mission 2: to carry on a religious mission among or in
3. mission aj : of or relating to a style used in the early Spanish
missions of the sou thwestern U.S. {~ architecture}